Winter shellfish harvest schedule

No Fluke

Posted
Wednesday, October 30, 2013 1:00 pm

Captain Dave Monti

The Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council (RIMFC) will meet Monday, November 4th, 6:00 p.m. to consider and vote on a winter shellfish harvest schedule recommendation. A report from the Shellfish Advisory Panel will provide Council members and attendees with background. The meeting is open to the public and shell fishermen are urged to attend the meeting which will take place at the URI Bay Campus, Corless Auditorium, South Ferry Road, Narragansett.

Lobster Advisory Panel to meet Nov. 6

The RIMFC Lobster Advisory Panel will be Wednesday, November 6, 6:00 p.m. at the URI Bay Campus, GSO Coastal Institute Building (Hazard Room A), South Ferry Road, Narragansett. The main purpose of the meeting will be to review and discuss recommendations for Area 2 Lobster Trap Effort Control Program and Trap Transferability Regulations. For information contact Scott Olszewski at (401) 423-1934

DEM seeks public comment on management plan proposals

The Division of Fish and Wildlife of the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) will solicit public comment on a variety of management plan proposals on Tuesday, November 19, 6:00 p.m. at the University of Rhode Island Bay Campus, Corless Auditorium, South Ferry Road, Narragansett. Written comments concerning the regulations proposed by DEM may be submitted to the Division of Fish and Wildlife, 3 Fort Wetherill Road, Jamestown, RI 02835 no later than 12:00 p.m. on Nov. 19.

Public comment will be solicited on the following RI Marine Fisheries amendment and regulation proposals:

1) Amendments to Freshwater and Anadromous Fishing Regulations for the 2014-2015 Season, regarding the management of American Eel

2) Regulation Part VII - Minimum Sizes of Fish/Shellfish, regarding the management of American Eel

3) Part XI - Commercial Fisheries, removal of the October closure for Atlantic herring

4) Part VII - Minimum Sizes of Fish/Shellfish, regarding the commercial quota for Summer flounder and the Summer Flounder Exemption Certificate program

The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) held their annual summit in Florida and a key focus was the state of the industry. Michael Nussman, ASA president and CEO, said "According to the latest U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national study, America's anglers spend $48 billion per year on fishing equipment, transportation, lodging and other expenses associated with fishing." Other agenda items discussed at the summit included challenges and opportunities facing fisheries management as well as the latest trends and insights from customers regarding recreational fishing. For additional information visit www.asafishing.org.

Where's the bite

Bonito. Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown said, "Customers are still catching bonito along the southern coastal shore mixed in with bluefish and striped bass." Ken Landry of Ray's Bait & Tackle, Warwick said, "One of my customers was trying to reach what he thought were bonito at the mouth of the Narrow River in Narragansett Sunday. The fish were breaking just beyond his casting range from shore."

Striped bass fishing has slowed off Block Island said Matt Conti of Sung Harbor. "A few fish are being caught on the southwest side of Block Island, however, anglers along the southern coastal shore continue to land school bass in the 26" range." said Conti. Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, said, "Ivan Brown of Texas fished Beavertail Point, Jamestown this weekend and landed a 39", 18 ½ pound striped bass." John Littlefield of Archie's Bait & Tackle, East Providence said "School bass and blue fish continue to be caught in the Providence River off Sabin Point and further north around the Hurricane Barrier and Hemingway's Restaurant.

Tautog fishing was by far the species target by most anglers this week. "The Brenton Reef area off Newport has been very good." said Matt Conti of Snug Harbor. "Tautog fishing has been very good at Seal Ledge and around can number two and four off Newport with a fair bite at Coddington Cove, Middletown." said Ken Landry of Ray's Bait. In Narragansett Bay "Anglers are finding fish at Rocky Point, at the day marker in the Warren River and at Conimicut Light with keeper fish in the six to eight pound range. The ratio was one keeper to every seven or eight fish which is a lot better than it has been the past couple of weeks." said John Littlefield of Archie's Bait & Tackle. Dave Henault and Cody Trostel fished for tautog off Little Compton and in the Horse Neck Beach area this week aboard Bounty Hunter Charters. Henault said, "Our party landed about 100 tautog and out of that about 36 were keepers with my heaviest weighing nine pounds three ounces." Roger Simpson of the Francis Fleet said, "Tautog of eleven and ten pounds were recorded this past week as well as a few others in the seven and eight pound range. It is very early still and the waters are on the warm side so as things cool down this fishery will continue to improve."

Offshore fishing was good this week when the weather was warm and seas calm enough to get out. Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina said, "Yellow fin tuna were caught at the canyons early this week and anglers are expected to fish offshore again this week as weather permits"

Fresh water fishing anglers were buying shiners at Ray's Bait & Tackle this weekend targeting bass and trout in ponds stocked by DEM (visit www.dem.ri.gov for a listing of stocked ponds and lakes). John Littlefield of Archie's Bait & Tackle said, "Sunday morning one of my customers caught a six pound largemouth bass at the Brickyard in Barrington on the Legion side. He was using shiners for bait."

Captain Dave Monti has been fishing and shell fishing on Narragansett Bay for over 40 years. He holds a captain's master license and a charter fishing license. Contact or forward fishing news and photos to Capt. Dave at dmontifish@verizon.net or visit his website at www.noflukefishing.com.